THE News of the World publicly apologised yesterday for hacking into the voicemail of numerous top celebrities, in a scandal that has engulfed top politicians, royals and stars.

The News of the World has publicly apologised to victims of the newspaper’s phone-hacking controversy, saying that the invasions of privacy “should not have happened”.

Lily Allen accepted damages today over allegations that she had made offensive remarks about David and Victoria Beckham and Ashley and Cheryl Cole.

Pop singer Lily Allen’s somewhat abrasive relationship with the paparazzi - which came to a head in a tussle with photographers in Soho last night – appears to have been at least partially resolved at an unscheduled UK High Court hearing today.

Actress Sienna Miller today accepted £35,000 (€43,000) damages in settlement of her privacy action against News Group Newspapers.

Sienna Miller is suing the bosses of two British tabloids and a photo agency after they released a series of sexy pictures of the star with married actor Balthazar Getty.

Top seed Colin Lloyd produced an astonishing fightback tonight to keep alive his hopes of winning the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.

Wayne Mardle produced another amazing fightback to become the first man to reach the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet today.